VIOLATION OF AMTRAK EMPLOYEE RAIL PASS

June 22, 2017 |  Investigative Summaries

On January 23, 2017, an Amtrak ticket agent was arrested on state charges related to defrauding Amtrak of goods and services obtained through Amtrak’s Employee Rail Pass Program. Our investigation found that the employee used her Amtrak Employee Rail Pass to reserve tickets in her dependents’ names and supply them to individuals who were not eligible for travel benefits. We also found that the employee applied for rail pass benefits reserved for employees’ spouses and children and claimed more than $26,000 in travel benefits in the name of an individual she claimed to be her husband, although we found no evidence to substantiate that the individual was her husband. On March 10, 2017, the employee was found to have violated company policy and was terminated. On June 22, 2017, the ticket agent pleaded guilty to misdemeanor conspiracy and theft charges in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, and was sentenced to 5 years of probation. The employee was also ordered to pay court fees and restitution in the amount of $26,000 to Amtrak.

Tracking Number
OIG-WS-2017-307